Cigar-case.



G. M. WILLIAMS.

CIGAR CASE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-2.1916.

L fifiwa Patented May 8, 1917.

8 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. M. WILLIAMS.

CIGAR CASE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.2.191s.

Patented May 8, 1917.

2 $HEETSSHEET 2 @51 72.215 w w OI'y M- fly/(51.1175.

@own 1 a may be loaded UNKTEE TATE PATENT @lthliQlll.

GEORGE M. VJILLIAMS, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO 1. LORILLARDCOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N.

Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CIGAR-CASE.

Application filed November 2, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonsn M. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigar-Cases, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements incases, and has particular application to a pocket case adaptedespecially for use as a container for little cigars and the like.

In the present instance it is my purpose to provide a case of thischaracter wherein a holder embodying a receiving section and a retainingsection is employed. The receiving section is adapted to lie flat duringthe packing, of the cigars, so that the latter in such holder flatwiseand with great rapidity and uniformity, instead of being loaded orinserted endwise with the resulting loss of time, as is necessitated byordinary cases of this general class. Furthermore my holder is intendedto be inclosed within an outer case formed of a pair of hinged covers,so that when the case is open the holder will assume a position at anangle to the covers constituting the case, and will thereby enable anindividual cigar to be conveniently removed from the holder withoutdisturbing or disarranging any of the other cigars.

Heretofore, so far as I am aware, no container of this type has beenprovided for the particular purpose of holding little cigars,

which unlike cigarettes, are not uniform in size and shape but vary indimensions and contour.

As is well known, machine-made cigarettes are usually manufactured onthe continuous-rod principle, the cigarettes of the required lengthbeing made by cutting the cigarette rod at predetermined points. Cigars,however, are made individually instead of in the form of a continuousrod, and in many instances vary in shape, some being noticeably tapered,and some being nearly cylindrical. Such individually manufac turedcigars also frequently differ one from another in density and thickness.The re sult is that cigarette containers or cases for holding cigarettesin spaced'relation, with which I am acquainted, are not well adapted forholding little cigars, due principally to the fact that the individualpockets or Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 1917.

Serial No. 129,180.

compartments in which the cigarettes are placed are uniform in size, andare therefore not suitable for retaining articles which vary in size andconformation.

Furthermore, owing to the inherent characteristics of the filler andwrapper of cigars, both being of tobacco, such articles are much moreliable to breakage than cigarettes, the relatively tough flexible paperwrapper of the latter tending to preserve the same against injury.

Therefore, I propose to provide a container or case for such littlecigars which will support the latter in spaced relation for convenientremoval of the individual cigars without danger of disarranging orbreaking other cigars in the container or case, the holder constitutinga part of my invention being so constructed as to properly receive andsupport the individual cigars in spaced relation, irrespective of thefact that such cigars may differ slightly in shape and size.

Another object is the provision of a container or case of thischaracter, wherein the cigars may be readily loaded flatwise in theholder without incurring the delay and the risk of breakage incident toinserting the articles endwise one at a time in the well known forms ofholders.

Furthermore, my invention also embraces means for positively retainingthe individual cigars in the holder against accidental displacement.

I also propose to provide a holder which will embody the desiredfeatures of simplicity, compactness, neatness and convenience, and whichmay be manufactured and marketed at a relatively low cost.

With the above recited objects, and others of a similar nature in view,my invention consists in the construction, com ination and arrangementsof parts set forth in and falling within the scope of the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view of thepreferred form of case embodying my invention, the retaining section ofthe holder being shown in open position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the holder loaded with cigars, with theretaining wall in open position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view, but showing the "etaining wall closed andsecured to hold the individual cigars in individual pockets.

Fig. 4c is a vertical sectional. view taken through a closed caseembodying my invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective complete case in its open in use.

Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive show perspective views of another form of myinvention, these views illustrating different positions of various partsof the holder before the packaging of the cigars is completed.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view through a closed case of the formshown in Figs. 6 to 8.

Fig. 10 is a such case in its use.

In the present instance, I have shown and described a case adaptedespecially for use as a container for little cigars, but it would ofcourse be understood that it is not limited in this particularapplication to this purpose, as if desired it may also be adapted as acontainer for cigarettes and kindred articles.

It will further be understood that the case may be made of any suitablematerial, such as metal, card-board or box-board, composition board or acombination of various suitable materials, including leather, fabric orthe like.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail and particularly tothe preferred form shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the letter Aindicates the case covering as an entirety, while the holder isdesignated by the letter B.

The case covering A comprises a pair of dished cover members, 11, eachhaving a flanged marginal edge, '2, and the contiguous longitudinalmarginal edges of the two cover members or sections are connected by astrip of flexible material 3, constituting a hinge. In the presentinstance, both the holder and the case cover therefor are preferablyformed of relatively stiff material, such as cardboard, box-board or thelike.

view showing the position, as when open position, as when in Preferablyformed integral with a sheet 4;, which as will be seen constitutes astiffening and lining sheet for the cover to which it is attached, is awall 5 preferably stiffened by the longitudinal beads 5 Pasted orotherwise secured to the inner face of this wall 5 is a corrugated strip6, the grooves or corrugations 6 of which are intended to receit e thecigars as shown in Fig. 2, and it will be understood of course thattheribs 7 formed between the corrugations or grooves will hold thecigars in spaced relation or-out of contact one with the other. Each endof this corrugated strip 6 is adapted to be bent at right angles to themain portion of the strip to form the end walls 8 of the holder. Thisholder further includes a retaining wall 9 of substantially the samedimensions as the receiver wall 5, and this retaining perspective viewshowing.

wall is cut or slotted to form a series of spaced tongues 10 which areintended to be bent or sprung inward to bear against the cigars lyingwithin the grooves of the corrugated strip when this retaining wall 9 isin its assembled or cooperating position as shown in Fig. 3. Thisretaining wall which is also made of card-board is preferably formedwith longitudinal extending beads 9 to stiffen or strengthen the wall.Each of the end Walls 8 of the holder preferably has formed integralwith the receiving wall an elongated flap 11, and these flaps areadapted to be folded over and inward against the outer face of theretaining wall 9 in such manner that the free edges of the flaps meetsubstantially at the central transverse line of the holder, and suchmeeting ends'are intended to be joined by means of a suitable paster orlabel shown at 11 It will be noted the flaps 11 when so folded occupysubstantially the space between the parallel beads 9 and cover and sealthe cigar engaging tongues 10.

This retaining wall 9 is preferably formed integral with the board sheet12 which is pasted to and covers the inner face of the other section ofthe case member and forms a lining and reinforcement therefor in thesame manner that the board sheet 4 forms a lining for the opposite covermember. Of course when the retaining wall 9 is formed integral with thesheet 12, or both are made from a single blank, such blank is scored asat 13 to form a hinge for the retaining wall.

In loading this case the latter is opened and the wall 5 carrying thecorrugated strip is moved to lie. fiat against the sheet 4 and withinthe confines of the cover section to. which this sheet 4 is attached.The op erator may now take a number of cigars in hand and drop or placethe same flatwise within the grooves or corrugations 6*. The retainingwall 9 is then folded up into sub stantial parallelism with thereceiving wall and the flaps 11 are folded inward and adhesively securedto the outer face of this, retaining wall as shown in 3, and are thensecured together by the label or paster 11, it being understood thatwalls 5 and 9 are not secured together in advance of loadmg.

The case containing the cigars is now ready for the market and it willbe noted that as the inwardly bent tongues bear against the cigars theywill hold the same in proper upright position and against accidentaldisengagement in proper spaced relation.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 to 10'inclusive, theholder B is constructed as follows:

The board sheet 4" which is pasted to the inner face of one of the coversections of the case has formed integral therewith a corrugated wall 5having vertical corrugations or grooves 6 separated by the beads 7, thiscorrugated wall being intended to receive the cigars and hold the samein spaced relation.

One end of this corrugated wall 5 is in the nature of a flap 8, to whichis hingedly connected the retaining wall 9 of the holder.

In this form of the invention one of the ends of the wall 9 is pasted tothe flap 8 in such manner as to form a flexible or hinged connection,and this wall 9 which is of substantially the same dimensions as thewall 5, is cut or slotted to form a series of spaced tongues 10, thesetongues being bent or bowed inward to overlie and bear against thecigars lying within the grooves of the corrugated wall 5 when theretaining wall 9 is closed and fastened as shown in Fig. 8.

The free end 11 of this retaining wall 9 is in the nature of a wing orflap having a keeper slot 12 formed therein which is adapted to receivethe locking tongue 18 at one end of the corrugated wall 5, when theholder is assembled to retain the cigars therein, as shown in Figs. 8and 10.

It will be noted by reference to said Figs. 8 and 10 that the flap 8with the attached end of the wall 9, forms one of the end walls of theholder, while the wing or flap 11 forms the opposite end wall of theholder, the latter thus being of substantially rectangular or box-likeform.

When the clamping or retaining wall 9 is in this closed position, thelocking tongue 13 is passed through the slot 12 and the angular end 13of this tongue bent over against the outer face of the wall 9, as shownin Fig. 8. This angular bent over end of the tongue is provided with anadhesive as shown at 14, and likewise the outer face of the wall 9, withthe exception of the inwardly bowed tongues thereof, is covered orcoated with the adhesive.

The numeral 15 designates a board sheet which is adhesively secured toand covers the inner face of the other section of the case cover, andforms a lining therefor, just as the board sheet 1 forms a lining forthe opposite cover member. This board sheet 15 has formed integraltherein, a wing 16 of substantially the same dimensions as the wall 9,and this wing 16 is adapted to be folded up against and pasted over theouter face of this wall 9 by means of the adhesive 14, as is clearlyshown in Fig. 10.

The result will be that the outer faces of the tongues 10 will becovered and concealed from view, but such tongues will project inwardlyin position to bear against the cigars held within the container.

Any suitable fastening device, such as that formed by the latch 17 andthe keeper plate 17' may be attached to the flanges of the coversections to hold the case locked in this closed position.

The manner of employing this form of the invention will be readilyapparent. When it is desired to fill or load the case, in the firstinstance as at the factory, it is only necessary for the operator toopen the case out flat and then drop from the hand the desired number ofcigars into the grooves or corrugations of the wall 5. This may bepractically done in one movement, as the operator can take a handful ofthe cigars, stretching or passing the hand over lengthwise of the holderand drop the cigars into the grooves, and then with the palm of the handstraighten, roll or position any of the cigars which may not dropproperly into the grooves. After the cigars have been so placed, thewall 10 may then be closed and fastened by means of the tongue 13 orother suitable fastener. The wing 16 is then pasted up against the outerface of the wall 9, so that it will appear as shown in Fig. 10.

Either form of this case may be made very cheaply of cardboard, boxboardor other material so that it may be discarded by the user after thecigars originally or ini tially contained therein have been removed.

Furthermore, each case owing to its peculiar construction is relativelythin and fiat and may therefore be carried about in the pocket withoutdistending or bulging the latter, the case presenting as it does a neat,attractive appearance will appeal to the purchaser, especially as whenopen for use it will present the cigars in convenient position to beremoved, and will also protect such cigars against accidental breakage.

While I have herein shown and described. certain particular embodimentsof my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myselfto all the precise details of construction herein set forth by way ofillustration, as modifications and variation may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of theappended claims.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A case of the class described comprising a pair ofcover sections, and a holder inclosed thereby, said holder including amember for receiving and holding the individual cigars in spacedrelation, said member being adapted to be positioned to liesubstantially flat within one of the cover sections to enable the cigarsto be packed flatwise therein, and a retaining member positionable toexpose the receiving member throughout its inner face during suchpacking operation and adapted to be permanently united with the cigarreceiving member after the cigars have been packed.

2. A case of the class described compris ing a pair of cover sections,and a holder adapted to be inclosed thereby, said holder including amember having grooves therein for the reception of lndlvidual cigars,said sections to enable the cigars to be packed flatwlse in such member,and a retainlng member adapted to' be permanently unlted with thegrooved member after the cigars have been packed in the latter.

3. A case of the class described comprising a pair of hinged dishedcover sections, and a holder adapted to be inclosed thereby, said holderincluding a hinged member having grooves therein for the reception "ofindividual cigars, said grooved member being adapted to be positioned tolie flat within the adjacent cover section to enable the cigars to bepacked flatwise in the grooves, and a hinged retaining memberpositionable to expose the receiving member throughout its inner faceduring such packing operation and adapted to be permanently united withthe grooved member to retain the cigars within the holder, saidretaining member having means adapted to bear against and maintain thecigars in the grooves of the grooved member.

4. A case of the class described comprising a pair of hinged coversections, a sheet lying at the inner face of one of said cover sections,a holder including a cigarreceiving member movably connected with saidsheet and adapted to be positioned to lieflat against the sheet toenable the cigars to be packed fiatwise within such receiving member,and a hinged retaining member positionable to expose the receivingmember throughout its inner face during such packing operation andadapted to be permanently united with the cigar-receiving member afterthe cigars have been packed in the latter.

5. A case of the class described comprising a pair of hinged covers, asheet fastened to the inner face of each cover, a cigar receiving wallhingedly connected with one of said sheets and adapted to have cigarspacked flatwise therein and a member hingedly connected with the othersheet and positionable to expose the receiving wall throughout its innerface during such packing operation, adapted to be united in assembledrelation with the cigar-receiving wall after the cigars have beenpacked.

6. A case of the class described comprising a pair of hinged coversections, a sheet pasted to the inner face of each cover section, agrooved wall section formed integral with and hingedly united to one ofsaid sheets and adapted to be positioned to lie flat against said sheetin the packing of the cigars, and a retaining wall formed integral withand hingedly united to the other sheet and positionable to expose thegrooved wall section throughout its inner'grooved face during suchpacking operation and adapted to be permanently connected with thegrooved wall after the cigars have been packed.

7. A case of the class described comprismg a pair of hinged coversections, a corrugated cigar-recelvlng Wall hingedly con nected theretoand having a pair of end' 'walls and inwardly extending flaps connectedwith the end walls, and a hingedwalls having a series of cigar-receivinggrooves formed therein and in which the cigars may be packed flatwise,the other of said side walls being positionable to expose the groovedwall throughout the length of the grooves and having a series of tonguesadaptedto aline with thegrooves when the side walls are united insubstantial parallelism after the cigars have been packed.

9. In a case of'the class described, a holder comprising a hinged wallprovided with cigar-receiving grooves, end walls cooperating with saidhinged wall, a hinged retaining wall being positionable to expose thegrooved wall throughout the length of the grooves and adapted to bemoved into parallelism with the first mentioned Wall after the cigarshave been packed in the grooves, andflaps adapted to be folded inwardlyover the outer face of the retaining wall and to be permanently unitedwith the latter.

10. In a case of the class described a holder comprising a hinged wallprovided with cigar-receiving grooves, end walls 00- operating with. thehinged wall, a hinged retaining wall being positionable to expose thegrooved wall throughout the length of the grooves and adapted to bemoved into parallelism with the first mentioned wall after the cigarshave been packed in the grooves of the latter, said retaining wallhaving a series of individual tongues adapted to bear against the cigarslying in the grooves, and flaps connected with the end walls and adaptedto be folded inward against the outer face of the retaining wall tooverlie the tongues, and means for uniting the meeting ends of theflaps.

11. In a container of the character described, a case of the leafsection type, and a holder secured to the caseand positioned therein tobe housed thereby when the case is closed, said holder comprisingopposing receiving and retaining Walls adapted to combinedly produce areceptacle for positioning the cigars individually and for individuallymaintaining the cigars in such positions, said Walls being positionableto Wholly expose the receiving face of the receiving well during loadingof the holder to permit flatwise positioning of the cigars,

10 and relatively movable to place said Walls in receptacle-formingposition after loading is completed, and means for permanently securingthe Walls in such latter position, whereby the cigars may becollectively introduced fiatWise While removal of positioned cigars Willbe limited to cigar movements in an endwise direction.

In testimony whereof afiiX signature.

GEORGE M. WILLIAMS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. C.

